Over Already?

I just hate that Christmas has already come and gone. I am not one for putting up decorations before Thanksgiving, but when December comes and leaves so quickly maybe I at least understand why some people do.

I love the decorations that come with Christmas.

I love Christmas music.

I love the spirit of giving that seems to be in the air.

I love the search for that just right gift.

I love seeing the great excitement and anticipation in my kids' eyes.

I love the reason we are celebrating.

I love Christmas and I am sad it is already over.

Almost

My first semester of graduate school is over. Grades are almost official.

My house is almost as clean as I want it.

Work / School is almost over for the holiday break. Friday is the last day. And it does not resume until January 5!

I almost have my Christmas shopping done.

I almost have my Christmas cards finished.

I almost have time to update my neglected blog.

Ready for the "almosts" to be completed!

A little bit of Ashley

Ashley loves, loves, loves to draw. She has loved to draw and color for as long as I can remember. Now that she knows how to spell ( phonetically of course) Story writing is becoming her new favorite. She comes home from school most days and writes stories. She often has an illustration to go with them. Here are a few of my favorites from last week.


I am six by Ashley
I am six. When I am six I go to school. When I am six I can read and do math. I love to be six.



I am thankful by Ashley
I am thankful for my family and my cousins. I am thankful for my friends and grandma and grandpa.

Preschool Update

After 9 weeks of school, Coleman has gone from observer of group activities in the classroom to an actual participant. I am one happy mama.

Last week he made a very cool leaf mask that he painted and glued things on - this required him wearing a big smock which in the past, he refused to do.

Yesterday he made a morocco and actually participated in the march around the classroom.

And today, he made homemade tortillas with cheese and beans and ate it!
( they are studying South America)

Montessori does amazing activiites that are so educational and enriching and he used to just sit and watch. I am so happy he is marching and singing and cooking now.


Oh Coleman. I love you so.

Tagged Again

I am thinking I messed up the rules of the tag game :)

I suppose I was to tag someone else. I didn't.

So I will now.

I tag my sister in law Jill and my dear friend Karen. This is to help you get something new on your blog. It's been a while and I am missing you!

Rules: 4th picture folder, 4th pic in that folder.

Missing Mitchel

Mitchel has been in Hawaii this whole week with my parents and Kendall and his family. For those of you wondering why he was the lucky one.. well Justin went to San Diego and Las Vegas last year with grandaddy (and uncle Kendall and Josh) and Mitchel said it was his turn for a trip! Grandaddy agreed.

While being down by one child definitely lessens the craziness around our home, we've missed him like crazy.

Ashley has asked nearly everyday if it is time for him to come home yet. When asked what she misses most, "he builds me the best forts."

Coleman also comments quite frequently that he misses him. Why? " Cause he's my buddy. "

Even Justin misses his brother. These two have their share of fights and arguments on a daily basis. But through the whole week even Justin has admitted that he misses him. " I miss him asking me to throw the football and just stuff like that."

I feel like I have been missing somebody. Always setting the table wrong and missing that extra back to scratch at night. Missing his smile, the way he plays with Coleman, the way he likes to help Ashley with her homework. The way his tongue sticks out when he is concentrating. His messes and inventions, well, we've been okay without those, but I think we'll take the mess to have him back with us!

Coleman closed his eyes and went sound to sleep when I told him Mitchel would be home tomorrow after church. You should have seen his smile and the way he couldn't get to sleep fast enough.

Tagged

My sister in law Kaley tagged me this past week. Rules of the game: Go to your picture files pick the fourth folder and the fourth picture in that folder and post it. I am a mac user. My pictures are organized differently from a PC. But I kept the rules to the best of my ability! And the photo winner was:



This was kind of fun b/c I never would have posted this picture. There are many things about this photo that make it not a good photo, photographically speaking. You cannot see half the people for example and it is not the best photo of some of them.

However, this picture evokes many a happy memory for me. This is taken at my house on Sunday, October 12: Josh's birthday. I love all the people sitting around the table and it reminds me of the wonderful family I have. My parents are in this photo, my cousins Wendy and Briggs and their son Sam, Johnny and Kaley, and Coleman and me. We were just sitting around the table visiting and enjoying each others company after having cake and ice cream. I love just talking with them.
The 2nd reason I so love this photo is the fact that we are sitting around my grandpa's table. "Inheriting" this table is my favorite gift of all time. Obviously it is a table of good size which works great on many occasions. But my true love for the table comes from the fact that I spent many hours sitting around this table with my grandparents talking the day away. Philosophizing as we used to call it. Solving all the world's problems. When I was a teenager we used to do it on every visit. When I was a newlywed, Josh joined in on our conversations. He of course loved this as much as I did. I honestly cannot think of anything that brings me greater joy than sitting around that table and talking with the people I love.